Finally, after years of longing and wishing and hoping, Nancy
and Scott Morley were close to fulfilling their dream. An adoption
agency had found a child for them. At last they would have a son or
daughter of their own - a precious little one to cherish. Soon they
would experience the joys of being a real family.

Then the reality of the adoption process sunk in, and the couple's
wishful feelings were overtaken with anxiety and concern. Would the
child they were adopting from a foreign country be healthy? What if
their new little loved one had a serious health problem, such as a
heart condition that would make their dream short-lived?read
more..

These instructions can be effective when written on packages
sent through the mail. But when they appear on a child, it is an
entirely different story, as underscored by the recent highly
publicized case of a Tennessee woman who tried to return her adopted
son to Russia several months ago. The incident set off an uproar, with
Russia indefinitely suspending adoptions from the United States.

No matter what your opinion is of the Russian "adoption-gone-wrong,"
there is no denying that adoptions can be challenging, if not
downright difficult. Any new child - whether through birth or adoption
- poses unanswered questions. Will they be sweet and obedient or will
they be disturbed and unruly? Will he or she be physically healthy or
suffer from a heart condition or some terrible disease?read
more..

Adopting Overseas? Get Expert Help.

Imagine you're in a foreign country with hopes of adopting a
much-yearned-for child. You just met the little boy, and he is
adorable. But there is a hitch. He may have some sort of medical
issue. Although the orphanage has provided you with medical records,
the paperwork is difficult to read - since it is only loosely
translated into handwritten English and the medical terminology is
daunting.

You have 48 hours to make a decision. What do you do?

Cleveland Clinic has the answer. Its MyConsult Pre-Adoption
Consultation program offers expert medical advice 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. So if you are in China or Russia or even Timbuktu,
you can receive top-notch medical advice, along with emotional
support, from an expert physician at the world-renowned Cleveland
Clinic.read
more..

Ed and Pam Godlewsky Seek a MyConsult Online Pre-Adoption Consultation While Considering the Medical Needs of a Child in China

In the ten years that they've been married, Ed and Pam Godlewsky
have faced their share of obstacles. After trying for several years,
they learned through their doctor that the probability of having a
child naturally was quite low, while the cost of fertility treatments
would be quite high. So they decided to look into adoption. After
extensive research, they elected to pursue adopting a child from China
and were placed on a waiting list for several years. Following two
unsuccessful attempts to adopt a Chinese child, the Godlewskys learned
about Mason, a Chinese boy who required corrective surgery following
his birth. While determining if Mason was the right fit for their
family, the Godlewskys reached out to Cleveland Clinic's MyConsult
Pre-Adoption Consultation program to seek some expert advice.read
more..